Classifications

• • G—PHYSICS
  • G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
  • G03G—ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY
  • G03G15/00—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern
  • G03G15/06—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern for developing
  • G03G15/08—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern for developing using a solid developer, e.g. powder developer
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
  • G03G—ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY
  • G03G15/00—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern
  • G03G15/06—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern for developing
  • G03G15/08—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern for developing using a solid developer, e.g. powder developer
  • G03G15/0822—Arrangements for preparing, mixing, supplying or dispensing developer
  • G03G15/0877—Arrangements for metering and dispensing developer from a developer cartridge into the development unit
  • G03G15/0881—Sealing of developer cartridges
  • G03G15/0886—Sealing of developer cartridges by mechanical means, e.g. shutter, plug
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
  • B65D83/00—Containers or packages with special means for dispensing contents
  • B65D83/06—Containers or packages with special means for dispensing contents for dispensing powdered or granular material
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
  • G03G—ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY
  • G03G15/00—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern
  • G03G15/06—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern for developing
  • G03G15/08—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern for developing using a solid developer, e.g. powder developer
  • G03G15/0822—Arrangements for preparing, mixing, supplying or dispensing developer
  • G03G15/0865—Arrangements for supplying new developer
  • G03G15/0867—Arrangements for supplying new developer cylindrical developer cartridges, e.g. toner bottles for the developer replenishing opening
  • G03G15/087—Developer cartridges having a longitudinal rotational axis, around which at least one part is rotated when mounting or using the cartridge
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
  • G03G—ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY
  • G03G15/00—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern
  • G03G15/06—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern for developing
  • G03G15/08—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern for developing using a solid developer, e.g. powder developer
  • G03G15/0822—Arrangements for preparing, mixing, supplying or dispensing developer
  • G03G15/0865—Arrangements for supplying new developer
  • G03G15/0867—Arrangements for supplying new developer cylindrical developer cartridges, e.g. toner bottles for the developer replenishing opening
  • G03G15/087—Developer cartridges having a longitudinal rotational axis, around which at least one part is rotated when mounting or using the cartridge
  • G03G15/0872—Developer cartridges having a longitudinal rotational axis, around which at least one part is rotated when mounting or using the cartridge the developer cartridges being generally horizontally mounted parallel to its longitudinal rotational axis
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
  • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
  • B29C49/00—Blow-moulding, i.e. blowing a preform or parison to a desired shape within a mould; Apparatus therefor
  • B29C49/02—Combined blow-moulding and manufacture of the preform or the parison
  • B29C2049/023—Combined blow-moulding and manufacture of the preform or the parison using inherent heat of the preform, i.e. 1 step blow moulding
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
  • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
  • B29C2949/00—Indexing scheme relating to blow-moulding
  • B29C2949/07—Preforms or parisons characterised by their configuration
  • B29C2949/0715—Preforms or parisons characterised by their configuration the preform having one end closed
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
  • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
  • B29C2949/00—Indexing scheme relating to blow-moulding
  • B29C2949/07—Preforms or parisons characterised by their configuration
  • B29C2949/081—Specified dimensions, e.g. values or ranges
  • B29C2949/0811—Wall thickness
  • B29C2949/0813—Wall thickness of the neck
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
  • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
  • B29C2949/00—Indexing scheme relating to blow-moulding
  • B29C2949/07—Preforms or parisons characterised by their configuration
  • B29C2949/081—Specified dimensions, e.g. values or ranges
  • B29C2949/0811—Wall thickness
  • B29C2949/0816—Wall thickness of the flange
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
  • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
  • B29C2949/00—Indexing scheme relating to blow-moulding
  • B29C2949/07—Preforms or parisons characterised by their configuration
  • B29C2949/081—Specified dimensions, e.g. values or ranges
  • B29C2949/082—Diameter
  • B29C2949/0825—Diameter of the flange
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
  • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
  • B29C49/00—Blow-moulding, i.e. blowing a preform or parison to a desired shape within a mould; Apparatus therefor
  • B29C49/02—Combined blow-moulding and manufacture of the preform or the parison
  • B29C49/06—Injection blow-moulding
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
  • B29K—INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES B29B, B29C OR B29D, RELATING TO MOULDING MATERIALS OR TO MATERIALS FOR MOULDS, REINFORCEMENTS, FILLERS OR PREFORMED PARTS, e.g. INSERTS
  • B29K2067/00—Use of polyesters or derivatives thereof, as moulding material
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
  • G03G—ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY
  • G03G2215/00—Apparatus for electrophotographic processes
  • G03G2215/01—Apparatus for electrophotographic processes for producing multicoloured copies
  • G03G2215/0103—Plural electrographic recording members
  • G03G2215/0119—Linear arrangement adjacent plural transfer points
  • G03G2215/0122—Linear arrangement adjacent plural transfer points primary transfer to an intermediate transfer belt
  • G03G2215/0125—Linear arrangement adjacent plural transfer points primary transfer to an intermediate transfer belt the linear arrangement being horizontal or slanted
  • G03G2215/0129—Linear arrangement adjacent plural transfer points primary transfer to an intermediate transfer belt the linear arrangement being horizontal or slanted horizontal medium transport path at the secondary transfer

Definitions

• the present invention relates to toner bottles for supplying toners to
• electrophotographic image forming apparatuses such as copiers, facsimiles,
• toner cartridges comprising the toner
• toner as used is meant broader sense and the meaning extends to
• developers are supplied in a way that a container containing a developer is
• JP-A Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (JP-A) Nos. 60-146265 and
• 9-311535 disclose, in such devices for supplying a developer or container for
• a driven gear that is mounted concentrically to a body of a developer
• cylindrical container main body having a bottom, and helical concave
• toner is supplied to the developing portion through the supplying aperture
• a toner supplying device is constructed as shown in FIG. 8, for example;
• reference number 80 in FIG. 8 denotes a toner cartridge
• 81 denotes the
• aperture for supplying a toner 82 denotes a helical rib, 83 denotes a ring
• helical concave portion formed by helical rib 82 for conveying the toner.
• ring gear 95 is provided at the side of outlet aperture 92 of toner
• reference number 93 denotes the axis of the toner bottle
• 94 denotes a
• 96 denotes a driving motor
• T denotes a toner
• diameter of the gear is larger than the diameter of the bottle body
• the conventional developer supplying containers are
• the resulting primary body is inserted into a specific mold and subjected to biaxial stretching blow molding under certain conditions.
• the mold construction of the injection molding or the biaxial stretching blow 5 molding is considerably complicated; in addition, since the ring gear is disposed at the thinner portion of the bottle body, there exist some problems that the rib construction is likely to be complicated, and the thickness of the bottle body should be increased.
• An object of the present invention is to provide a toner bottle in which the possibility to damage the ring gear, in particular the teeth of the ring gear, is remarkably suppressed at processing the toner bottle such as handling, packaging, and transporting; thus packaging and transporting
• 15 without cushioning materials are principally enabled; and also to provide a process for producing the toner bottle, a toner container comprising the toner bottle and a cap, a toner cartridge comprising the toner container filled with a toner, an image forming apparatus equipped with the toner cartridge, and an image forming process.
• Another object of the present invention is to provide a toner bottle in which the wall thickness of the bottle body is not necessary to thicken, in addition the rib construction is relatively simple for reinforcing the bottle
• container comprising the toner bottle and a cap, a toner cartridge
• a toner bottle is provided
• the cylindrical aperture is disposed at one end of the cylindrical
• the cylindrical aperture is concentric with the cylindrical bottle
• the outside diameter of the cylindrical aperture is smaller than the outside diameter
• the ring gear is disposed on the cylindrical aperture, the ring gear is
• ring gear is smaller than the outside diameter of the cylindrical bottle.
• the ring gear do not project beyond the outer surface of the cylindrical
• the inventive toner bottle can be packaged and transported substantially without cushioning materials.
• the inventive toner bottle is filled with a toner
• the toner bottle may be supported more certainly since the ring gear is protected at least in a part by the outer surface of the cylindrical bottle that has an outside diameter larger the tip circle diameter of the ring gear.
• the ring gear is disposed with a space of 5 mm to 20 mm from the end face of the cylindrical aperture.
• the difference between the outer diameter of the cylindrical bottle and the tip circle diameter of the ring gear is 1 mm to 5 mm.
• the toner bottle further comprises a connecting and
• the tooth width of the ring gear is 2 mm or more, in particular the tooth width of the ring gear is 4 mm to 6 mm. 5
• plastic gears such as of PET may provide sufficient mechanical strength when these features are given.
• an aperture for feeding the toner is formed at the bottom of the cylindrical bottle, a sealing member of which the shape is sheet-like or plate-like is adhered to the aperture for feeding the toner, and the sealing member is capable of opening and closing the aperture for feeding the toner.
• This feature may provide conveniences or simplicities at bottle cleaning or toner refilling, thus easy recycle of toner bottles may be afforded, and the reuse may be assured.
• the toner bottle is a molded plastic that is equipped with a ring gear molded integrally with the cylindrical bottle, and the plastic is
• polyethylene terephthalate resins selected from the group consisting of polyethylene terephthalate resins, polyethylene resins, polypropylene resins, polyvinyl chloride resins, polyamide resins, polystyrene resins, and polycarbonate resins.
• present invention comprises setting a hollow cylindrical preform, having a
• the hollow cylindrical preform is formed by injection
• toner bottles described above may be produced.
• a toner container may be
• the toner container according to the present invention comprises a
• toner bottle selected from those described above and a cap, wherein the cap, being attached to the toner bottle, covers the cylindrical aperture and its neighborhood while exposing the teeth of the ring gear.
• a toner exit is provided at a site of the cap where the cap covers the cylindrical aperture, and a shutter is provided for opening and
• the toner container is mounted to an image forming apparatus in an attachable and detachable manner through the cap in a specific position, and the shutter is capable of opening.
• a toner cartridge may be
• the toner cartridge according to the present invention comprises the toner container described above a toner filled in the toner container.
• toner cartridge leakage or escape of the toner may be prevented during the usage for electrophotographic image forming apparatuses, thus conveniences and/or availabilities may be provided for 5 operators, for example.
• an image forming apparatus may be provided; the image forming apparatus according to the present invention comprises a photoconductor, a latent electrostatic image forming unit configured to form an electrostatic image on the
• a developing unit configured to develop the latent electrostatic image by means of a toner to form a visible image
• a transferring unit configured to transfer the visible image on a recording
• the toner is supplied from the toner cartridge.
• the toner bottle may bring about more stable feeding of the toner into the
• the image forming process comprises forming a latent
• toner cartridge according to claim 17 is mounted through the cap in an
• the toner is supplied from the toner cartridge.
• toner bottle may bring about more stable feeding of the toner into the
• FIG. 1 is a partially cross-sectional front view showing exemplarily
• FIG. 2 is a front view showing exemplarily a representative
• FIG. 3A is a front view showing exemplarily a representative
• FIG. 3B is a side view of the representative construction of the
• FIG. 4A is a front view showing exemplarily a ring gear construction of a toner bottle of the second mode according to the present invention.
• FIG. 4B is a side view showing exemplarily the ring gear
• FIG. 5 is a cross-section view showing exemplarily a representative
• FIG. 6 is a schematic perspective view showing exemplarily a
• FIG. 7 shows a way that the preform shown in FIG. 6 is subjected to
• FIG. 8 is a schematic perspective view that shows exemplarily a
• FIG. 9 is a schematic perspective view that shows exemplarily
• FIG. 10 is a schematic exemplary view that shows an inventive
• FIG. 11 is another schematic exemplary view that shows an
• inventive image forming process by means of an inventive image forming
• FIG. 12 is a schematic exemplary view that shows an inventive image forming process by means of an inventive image forming apparatus of
• FIG. 1 is a partially cross-sectional front view showing the entire
• a toner container is constructed by attaching a cap (not shown)
• linear rib 13b is formed in parallel to the
• the cylindrical bottle 11 has a bottom.
• Cylindrical aperture 15 for supplying a toner is provided at one axial
• Cylindrical aperture 15 has a certain length and
• connecting and extending portion 16 and shoulder 17 that are concentric with cylindrical bottle 11 are provided between the front edge of cylindrical bottle 11 and cylindrical aperture 15.
• Toner bottle 10 has structural features in that ring gear 18 of which 5 the tip circle diameter is smaller than the outer diameter of the cylindrical bottle 11 to which helical concave 12 is formed, and the ring gear serves to rotate the toner container as a driven gear and is disposed concentrically with cylindrical aperture 14; ring gear 18 is provided on cylindrical aperture 15; the width of teeth portion of ring gear, i.e. tooth width, is 2 mm or more;
• the connecting and extending portion 16 being connected to the front edge of cylindrical bottle 11 opposite to bottom 21, is a way to direct the toner.
• the connecting and extending portion 16 tapers down from the
• FIG. 1 shows a mode in which ring gear 18 is situated in connection to the edge of connecting and extending portion 16.
• reference numbers 19 and 20 are members for engaging
• reference number 19 is a ring butt to attach the cap in a sealed manner
• reference number 20 is a ring collar for preventing detachment of
• An instrument of a cap with a shutter leads to easy packaging and
• Cylindrical bottle 11 of such construction can be produced by biaxial
• the toner container (not shown) formed of cylindrical bottle 11 and
• the cap (not shown) may be mounted in an attachable and detachable
• the toner bottle for example shown in FIG. 1 is equipped with a
• the toner bottle 10 for example shown in FIG. 1 and the cap enable the attachment of the resulting toner container; wherein when the cap is attached to the toner bottle, the cap covers the 5 cylindrical aperture 15 and its neighborhood, while exposing the teeth of ring gear 18.
• a shutter is provided at a site of the cap where the cap covers the cylindrical aperture such that the shutter opens when the toner container is mounted to electrophotographic image forming apparatuses in a specific position.
• filling a toner to the toner container according to the present invention may provide a toner cartridge according to the present invention; then the toner cartridge may be attached to electrophotographic image forming apparatuses by making use of a cap.
• Second Mode >
• FIG. 2 shows a front view of a cylindrical aperture and its neighborhood of a toner bottle that is formed by engaging a plastic ring gear to a plastic cylindrical bottle.
• FIG. 3A shows a front view of a representative construction of a cylindrical bottle prior to engaging a ring gear;
• FIG. 3B is the side view.
• FIG. 4A is a front view showing the
• FIG. 4B is the cross section.
• the toner bottle 30 shown in FIG. 2, of which the essential construction is substantially the same with that shown in FIG. 1, is
• plastic cylindrical bottle 31 shown in FIGs. 3A and 3B.
• cylindrical aperture 32 for supplying toner is provided at a
• ring collar 35 is formed on cylindrical aperture 32;
• Ring collar 35 corresponds to ring collar 20 for
• diameter Dl of ring gear 41 is 34.2 mm; outer diameter D2 of ring projection
• ring gear 41 is 5.5 mm; and width W2 of flange 33 is 6 mm.
• FIG. 5 is a partial cross section showing essential construction of a
• the toner bottle 50 being a plastic molded product, has substantially the same construction with that shown FIG. 1, wherein ring gear 51 is formed integrally with cylindrical bottle 52.
• Toner bottle 50 wherein ring gear 51 being provided concentrically with cylindrical aperture 53, has features that wall thickness W3 of
• o cylindrical aperture 53 is thinner than tooth width Wl of ring gear teeth
• the ring gear 51 is comprised of a disk 51a that is concentric with cylindrical aperture 53 and ring teeth 51b that are connected concentrically with the outer edge of the disk 51a, and the wall thickness W3 of disk 51a is substantially the same with the wall thickness 5 W2 of cylindrical aperture 53.
• the inventive process for producing a toner bottle can produce toner battles according to the present invention.
• the inventive process comprises preform setting, blow molding, and the other processing depending on
• a hollow cylindrical preform that is provided with a ring gear for rotating the toner bottle is set in a mold tool using the
• the preform is heated, then pressurized gas is
• the pressure of the pressurized gas may be 0.5 to
• the temperature of the heated preform may be 90 to 120 °C in the
• PET polyethylene terephthalate
• Toner bottle 50 having integrally a ring gear as shown in FIG. 5 may
• the preform or parison 60 may be produced from a PET
• hollow cylindrical preform 60 is produced by an
• reference number 72 is a stretch pin
• 73 is a carrier pin. (Toner Container and Toner Cartridge)
• the inventive toner container comprises the inventive toner bottle, a
• the cap covers the cylindrical aperture 15 and its neighborhood, when the cap is attached to the toner bottle.
• the material of the cap may be properly selected depending on the application; for example, such thermoplastics are available as polystyrene resins, polyvinyl chloride resins, polyethylene 5 resins, polyethylene terephthalate resins, polypropylene resins, polyoxymethylene resins, ABS resins, and polycarbonate resins.
• a toner exit and a shutter to open and close the toner exit are provided at a site of the cap where the cap covers the cylindrical aperture such that the shutter opens or closes the toner exit.
• the toner container is mounted to image forming apparatuses with the cap in an attachable and detachable manner, and the shutter can be opened in a specific manner.
• inventions may provide toner cartridges according to the present invention.
• the toner may be properly selected from commercially available toners.
• the other units for example, charge-eliminating unit, cleaning unit,
• control step if required.
• the toner cartridge according to the present invention is mounted to
• the image forming process according to the present invention may be suitably applied to the image forming apparatus according to the present invention.
• the latent electrostatic image forming step may be performed by the latent electrostatic image forming unit, the developing step may be performed by the developing unit, the transferring step may be performed
• the fixing step may be performed by the fixing unit.
• the other unit may perform the other steps.
• the latent electrostatic image forming step is one that forms a latent
• the latent electrostatic image bearing member (hereinafter referring to as “photoconductor”) is not particularly limited as to the material, shape, construction or size, and may be suitably selected from among those known in the art. For example, its shape may be drum-like,
• amorphous silicon is preferred from the viewpoint of long life.
• the latent electrostatic image may be formed, for example, by
• the latent electrostatic image forming unit for example, comprises
• the charging may be performed, for example, by applying a voltage
• the charger is not particularly limited and may be suitably selected
• the shape thereof is not specifically limited
• fur brush It can be suitably selected according to a specification or
• the magnetic brush contains an electrostatic charge
• non-magnetic conductive sleeve to support the electrostatic charger
• a material of the fur brush is, for example, a
• the light irradiation may be performed by irradiating the surface of
• the light irradiator is not particularly limited and may be suitably
• irradiator such as copy optical system, rod lens array system, laser optical
• liquid crystal shutter optical system and liquid crystal shutter optical system may be exemplified.
• a backlight system may be
• the developing step is one that develops a latent electrostatic image
• the visible image may be formed for example by developing the latent electrostatic image using the toner or developer, which may be
• the developing unit is not particularly limited provided that it may
• the toner and the carrier may for example
• the transferring step is one that transfers the visible image to a
• the first transferring is performed
• the transferring can be realized, for example, by charging the
• the transferring unit comprises a
• first transferring unit which transfers the visible image to the intermediate
• the intermediate image-transfer member is not particularly limited
• a transfer belt may be exemplified.
• transferring unit preferably comprises an image-transferer which charges
• the image-transferer may be a corona transferring unit which
• the recording medium is not particularly limited and may be
• the recording medium is typically plain paper, but is not specifically
• PET polyethylene terephthalate
• the fixing step is one that fixes the visible image transferred to the
• the fixing apparatus is not particularly limited and may be suitably
• the and pressure unit include a combination of a heat roller and pressure roller,
• the heating temperature in the heat-pressure unit is preferably
• an optical fixing unit known in the art may be used in addition to or instead of the fixing step and fixing unit, depending on the application.
• the charge-eliminating step is one that applies a discharge bias to the latent electrostatic image bearing member to discharge it, which may be 5 performed by a charge-eliminating unit.
• the charge-eliminating unit is not particularly limited and may be suitably selected from charge-eliminating unit known in the art provided that it can apply a discharge bias to the latent electrostatic image bearing member, for example, a discharge lamp.
• the cleaning step is one that removes electrophotographic toner remaining on the latent electrostatic image bearing member, and may be performed by a cleaning unit.
• the cleaning unit is not particularly limited and may be suitably selected from cleaning unit known in the art provided that it can remove
• electrophotographic toner remaining on the latent electrostatic image bearing member for example, a magnetic brush cleaner, electrostatic brush cleaner, magnetic roller cleaner, blade cleaner, brush cleaner and web cleaner are exemplified.
• the recycling step is one that recycles the electrophotographic toner
• the recycling unit is not particularly limited and may be suitably
• the control step is one that controls the respective processes
• control unit may be properly implemented by a control unit.
• the control unit is not particularly limited and may be suitably
• each of the unit for example, a device such as a sequencer or a
• apparatus 100 shown in FIG. 10 comprises photoconductor drum 110
• photoconductor 110 As the latent
• the intermediate image-transfer member 50 is an endless belt
• One of the three rollers 51 serves as a bias roller for applying a bias for image transfer to the intermediate image-transfer member 50.
• a cleaner 90 for cleaning the intermediate image-transfer member 50 is arranged in the vicinity of the intermediate image transfer member 50 and includes a cleaning blade.
• roller 80 as the transferring unit faces the intermediate image-transfer member 50 and transfers a toner image from the intermediate image-transfer member 50 to a transferring sheet 95 serving as a final transferring member.
• a corona charger 58 for applying charges onto the developed image on the intermediate image-transfer member 50 is arranged
• the corona charger is disposed between a contact area of the photoconductor 110 and the intermediate image-transfer member 50 and another contact area of the intermediate image-transfer member 50 and the transfer sheet 95 in the direction of rotation of the intermediate image-transfer member 50.
• the image-developer 40 is comprised of a developing belt 41 as a developer carrier, black developing unit 45K disposed around the developing belt 41, yellow developing unit 45Y, magenta developing unit 45M and cyan developing unit 45C.
• the black developing unit 45K includes a developer tank 42K, developer feed roller 43K and developing roller 44K.
• o developing unit 45Y includes a developer tank 42Y, developer feed roller
• the magenta developing unit 45M includes a developer tank 42M, developer feed roller 43M and developing roller 44M.
• the cyan developing unit 45C includes a developer tank 42C, developer feed
• the developing belt 41 is in the form
• the charging roller 120 uniformly charges the photoconductor 110.
• light irradiator 30 applies light to the photoconductor 110 imagewise to form
• the image-developer 40 feeds the
• the visible image is
• the image forming apparatus 100 of FIG. 11 has the same configuration and the same
• the image forming apparatus 100 of FIG. 11 does not include a developing
• magenta developing unit 45M and cyan developing unit 45 C surround and
• the image forming apparatus 100 shown in FIG. 12 is a tandem
• the copier main body 150 includes an endless-belt intermediate
• image-transfer member 50 is spanned over three support rollers 114, 115
• FIG. 12 An intermediate image-transfer member cleaner 117 is arranged
• image-transfer member cleaner 117 is capable of removing a residual toner
• first and second support rollers 114 and 115 yellow, cyan, magenta and
• black image forming devices 118 are arrayed in parallel in a moving direction of the intermediate image-transfer member 50 to thereby
• a light irradiator 121 is
• secondary image-transferer 122 faces the tandem image-developer 220 with
• secondary image-transferer 122 comprises an endless belt serving as a
• An image-fixer 125 is arranged on the side of the secondary
• the image-transferer 122 comprises an endless
• the tandem image forming apparatus further includes a sheet
• the sheet reverser 28 is capable of reversing the
• a full-color image (color copy) is formed by using the tandem image
• the automatic document feeder 400 is opened, the document is placed on a contact glass 32 of the scanner 300, and the automatic document feeder 400 is closed to press the document.
• the scanner 300 is immediately driven to operate a first carriage 33 and a second carriage 34.
• Light is applied from a light source to the document by action of the first carriage 33, and reflected light from the document is
• each of the image forming devices 118 black, yellow, magenta and cyan image forming devices
• each of the image forming devices 118 black, yellow, magenta and cyan image forming devices
• a photoconductor 110 black photoconductor 110K, yellow photoconductor HOY, magenta photoconductor 110M or cyan
• photoconductor HOC photoconductor HOC
• electrostatic charger 60 an electrostatic charger 60
• light irradiator 60 a light irradiator
• image-developer 61 a transferring charger 62, a photoconductor cleaner 63,
• charger 60 serves to charge the photoconductor uniformly. The light
• the image-developer 61 develops the
• a composite color image (transferred color image) is formed.
• One of feeder rollers 142 of the feeder table 200 is selectively rotated,
• sheets are ejected from one of multiple feeder cassettes 144 in a paper bank 143 and are separated by a separation roller 145 one by one into a feeder
• the copier main body 150 and are bumped against a resist roller 49.
• a feeder roller 150 is rotated to eject sheets on a manual
• the resist roller 49 is generally grounded but can be used under

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